News &amp; Features - January 2010

Grant Johnson, 2, of Johnstown, left, and Kylee Koch, 5, of Windsor play in a jacuzzi tub during the Northern Colorado Home Improvement Show on Saturday at The Ranch. The show provided home improvement ideas for residents of Northern Colorado and, according to event organizers, many people are choosing to do their own improvement in this difficult econcomy.

A colony of feral cats sits around a water bowl at the old sugar factory on Thursday. Melodee and Mark Warter have been feeding the cats and recently were instrumental in having all but two of them spayed or neutered.

A feral cat bathes in the last rays of Thursday's sun at the old sugar factory.

A colony of feral cats feast at the old sugar factory on Thursday thanks to the support of Melodee and Mark Warter who rent a shop on the property.

Melodee Warter prepares food for fed a colony of feral cats on Thursday outside a shop at the old sugar factory.

Tuba players Zach Henderson, 17, left, Ben Tripam, 16, center, and Justin Tebbe, 15, work on a section of music that features tuba on Friday during a class at Loveland High School. The school's wind symphony will attend the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Wash, next year.

Head Band Director Matthew Arau leads the Loveland High School wind symphony on Friday during a class at Loveland High School.

Jim Stewart, training coordinator for the Larimer County Dive Rescue Team, plays the part of a drowning victim during training for ice rescue on Lake Loveland. Members from Loveland Fire and Rescue, Berthoud Fire Protection District and Estes Valley Volunteer Fire Department participated in the training so all of the agencies could be trained in the same techniques and coordinate on large scale rescues in which several agencies are dispatched.

Engineer Shawn Willians, left, communicates with firefighter Sandra Friedrichsen of Loveland Fire and Rescue as they investigate for signs of fire at 134 E. 29th Street on Wednesday evening. According to Lt. Greg Gilbert of Loveland Fire and Rescue, firefighters were called out to the Donut Haus around 4:30 p.m. where occupants of the unit complained of smoke. Gilbert said firefighters did see smoke but could not determine where it came from.

Piper Brown, 13, sings "Scarborough Fair" during auditions for a variety show called "Bill Reed Presents..." on Wednesday afternoon at Bill Reed Middle School. Students will perform at 7 p.m. on Feb. 11 at the Rialto Theater. The parent committee called ProLISA which organized the event was formed to raise money to head off any possible cuts to the Loveland Integrated School of the Arts program.

Youngsters help unload items donated for Haiti disater relief at the loading dock of H.E.L.P. International in Loveland on Tuesday. From left are Ella Price, 10, Millie Withrow, 11, Jack Withrow, 13, John Bednarek, 9, Lola Withrow, 9, and Magdalen Mercado, 10.

Milliken resident Ronald Mallett prepares to drop off several water filtration kits at the H.E.L.P. International warehouse in Loveland on Tuesday that will be sent to Haiti to help victims of the recent earthquake.

Jennifer Monk of Monk Yoga leads a noontime class on Tuesday that will benefit victims of the earthquake in Haiti through donations to the Red Cross. Monk will offer another class to benefit the same cause at noon next Tuesday. Monk noticed the need from news reports over the weekend: "Watching all that on TV and seeing all those people in destitution, I though we needed to take some action," said Monk who offers her studio to benefit community causes.

Bill Reed Middle School sixth grader Alia Jackson, 11, reads from her award-winning essay titled "Speakin Out For Justice" during the Martin Luther King Day celebration Monday night at Thompson Valley High School.

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Emergency personnel work the scene of a two-vehicle accident Monday near the park and ride lot on the Interstate-25 frontage road just south of exit 250.

Loveland residents, from left, Oren Yakovee, Josiah Powers, 4, and Airiel Siegel, 7, get some snacks in the commons area at Thompson Valley High School on Monday night as part of the Martin Luther King Day celebration's social hour.

Cynthia Young of LaSalle leads her dog, Prince, across a stone wall Saturday at The Ranch while obedience training with other dog owners.

Three-year-old Eli Rexford of Greeley sprints around the Ranch-Way Feeds Arena atop his horse named Sugar while competing in the stick-horse race Saturday during the Big Thunder Draft Horse Show.

Mike Gustafson of Blanco, N.M. drives his team of Belgian horses around in front of spectators in Ranch-Way Feeds Indoor Arena during the tandem-class competition of the Big Thunder Draft Horse Show on Saturday at The Ranch.

Rose Gingerich, left, polishes the hoof of a Belgian mare named Shery Ann while Josh Steffen attaches braids to her mane in preparation for showing during the Big Thunder Draft Horse Show on Saturday at The Ranch.

Brandon Rathbone, 19, is dressed as a gladiator as he warms up the team of horses pulling his chariot, from left, Lady, Marty and Dutchess before performing Saturday during the Big Thunder Draft Horse Show at The Ranch. It was Rathbone's final performance with the Westernaires which is a precision drill organization out of Jefferson County that provides training in western riding, precision drills and horse care for youths from nine to 19 years old.

Several Canada geese skim over the frozen surface of Lake Loveland late Saturday afternoon before coming to a landing on the ice where other geese were congregating.

Artist Donald Fodness talks about one of his Slavador Dali-inspired drawings Saturday during a presentation called "Dali and Me!" at the Loveland Museum/Gallery.

Attendees to a presentation called "Dali and Me!" are silhouetted in front of several paintings on Saturday in the Foote Gallery at the Loveland Museum/Gallery. At rear left is "Monarchy," by Mollie Walker Freeman and at right is a collage on wood called "'A Hard Man is Good to Find' -Mae West," by Zoa Ace. The exhibit called "Twirling Dali's Moustache" runs through Feb. 14 and features a variety of pieces inspired by the works of artist Salvador Dali.

New Larimer County Commissioner Lew Gaiter, right, stands with his family as he addresses attendees to his swearing-in ceremony Friday in the hearing room of the Larimer County Offices in Fort Collins.

Corina Lane, left, reads from a thank-you note on Thursday from a time when she visited a school to tell them about blindness. She and her daughter Katelynne, right, were unpacking after Lane moved in on Jan. 8. Lane purchased the house through the Loveland Housing Authority's Home Match program.

Police Chief Luke Hecker, right, congratulates Sgt. John Teeples as he presents him with the Loveland Police Medal of Honor on Thursday during the Loveland Police Awards at the Loveland Police and Courts building. Teeples was awarded for saving the life of a fellow officer by fatally shooting a man who was holding the other officer hostage in 1972 when he was on the force. From left are Cpt. Ray Miller, Cpt. Rob McDaniel and Sgt, Teeples wife Sharon Teeples.

Loveland Police Chief Luke Hecker, right, congratulates Officer Derek Stephens after presenting him with the Police Shield award for being injured in the line of duty during Thursday's Loveland Police Awards at the Loveland Police and Courts building.